God of wisdom, by the leading of your Spirit, open our minds to receive new insight from familiar stories. Open our hearts to grasp deeper truth, revealed through the Scriptures, and through Jesus Christ, your Living Word. Amen.
New Testament Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
This morning, as part of our summer series on the “one another” commands found in the New Testament, we’re going to look at our reading from 1st Thessalonians, which is a letter Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica. And what we’re going to focus on in particular is this simple, yet powerful, verse, “Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.” These few words speak volumes about our calling, not only as individuals in Christ, but as a community shaped by the gospel. So, let’s allow the Holy Spirit to open our hearts as we reflect on what it means to live lives that build others up in the faith.
But before we begin to look at the passage, I’d like to give a brief refresher on the Thessalonian church and where it was situated. It was in a city called Thessalonica, which was located in what is now modern day Greece. It is now called Thessaloniki and is the second largest city in Greece, after Athens.
Thessalonica was located on the Aegean Sea and was also on the road know as Via Ignatia, which led directly to Rome. This, combined with the fact that it was situated on a fertile coastal plain, made it the largest and most important commercial and political centre in the region.
Because of this, it was a very cosmopolitan place, inhabited by peoples from all over the known world. There were Germans, Greeks, and Romans, who were made up mostly retired soldiers who were rewarded for their dedication to duty with a warm and sunny climate to live in for the rest of their lives. There were also a large number of Jewish people who came from the east, fleeing persecution and establishing themselves in such a booming commercial city. Through time they would make up over one third of the population.
They also made up the majority of the Christian Church in Thessalonica. Unlike the pagan cultures around them, they were monotheistic, that is they worshipped one God. And the God they worshipped was the same God, as ours, the God of the Old Testament.
The church there was founded by Paul and his fellow missionary, Silas, on one of their missionary trips. The Apostle Luke, in the Book of Acts, tells us how that took place, “After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.’ Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.” (Acts 17:1-4)
But now, after the initial joy of having accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, the members of the church in Thessalonica were beginning to have second thoughts. They had questions about their departed loved ones, and how Jesus was going to reunite them when he returned in his second coming. The believers in Thessalonica were eager and, at times, anxious about Christ’s return. Some feared they would be caught off guard, while others were uncertain about how to live while waiting for this great event.
So, Paul, who was in the city of Corinth at the time, wrote a letter to the believers in Thessalonica to help strengthen them in the faith. In the section we heard read this morning he addresses their concerns about just when Jesus would return in the Second Coming. Paul writes, “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”
Paul could say this with confidence. Jesus, while spending time with his closest followers after his resurrection, had been asked by them, “‘…Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’” (Acts 1:6) This was his reply, “‘…It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.’” (Acts1:7)
And now Paul had been teaching the Thessalonians about the coming of the Lord, and they had some basic understanding of it, but there was some confusion about two issues. One was that they had fully expected to live until the day Christ returned, so they were very confused and upset when some of the believers died. The other issue that arose was that some, in anticipation of the coming of the Lord, had quit their jobs and completely disengaged themselves from normal life, and from the calling of the church. Paul now has some specific encouragement on the issue of how they were to live in anticipation of Christ’s coming and at the same time live lives which gave glory to him.
So, Paul wrote them, saying, “But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.” He told them not to worry, for since they were believers, and children of the light, God would remember them. And we, today, know that as well, since Jesus had said to his disciples, “‘But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’” (Matthew 24:36) So, as children of the day, we are to remain alert, keeping our wits about us, because we know that Christ is near at hand.
Paul then reassures them with a call to readiness. He shifts the focus from when Christ will return to how we should live until he does. And what’s most important for us today, as we patiently await the return of Jesus, are these words of Paul’s, “Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.” Paul had said to the members of the church to love one another, help one another, be kind to one another, not to judge one another; here he says to strengthen, or comfort one another, with encouragement.
Despite their doubts and worries, the members of the church in Thessalonica were encouraging each other and working together to grow stronger in the faith. And we are to do the same. We are not just called to prepare ourselves but also to help others. Faith is not an individual journey; it is a shared mission. Encouragement is not just a nice thing to do; it’s a command for the church. We are not spiritual islands. The Christian Walk is not a solo journey. The expectation of Christ’s return in the Second Coming should motivate us to minister to one another.
Encouragement reminds others of who they are in Christ. It helps us all continue on when the day feels long. It helps build a community where hope and love thrive. Who in your life needs to hear a word of hope? Who can you build up today—by a prayer, a kind word, or a helping hand? Don’t wait. The church grows stronger when we lift one another up. Encouragement is not mere compliments; it is reminding the discouraged that God is still good.
Encouragement is not a one time thing, it’s continual. The pressures of life, doubts, grief, they don’t pause. So, neither should our encouragement. Let us be a people who notice who is struggling, who reach out to the isolated and pray consistently for each other.
Jesus constantly encouraged. He called Peter a rock before he acted like one. He lifted the woman caught in sin, with both grace and truth. He washed the feet of those who would fail him. And he is still encouraging and building. “I will build my church,” Jesus said (Matthew 16:18). And he builds through us—when we love, when we help others, when we serve.
The world doesn’t need more critics—it needs more builders. People who come alongside others with truth, patience, and love. So today, I ask you: who can you encourage this week? Who needs to be built up by your presence, your words, your faith? Don’t just go along, encourage, equip, and build up others.
Let’s be a church that shines with the light of day—even in a world full of night. Let us be a church known for its warmth, for its encouragement, it’s support for others. Let’s build one another up—just as we are doing—until the day Christ returns.
Let us Pray:
Lord, thank you that we are not in darkness, but in your marvelous light. Help us to stay awake, to live ready, and to walk in faith, love, and hope. Strengthen us to encourage one another, and to live each day as those destined for salvation through Jesus Christ. Come, Lord Jesus—may we be found faithful. Amen.
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